Monday, 16 September 2013

This is
not an EP or LP, it's a beat tape made of raw Hip Hop/Future Funk beats
or whatever you can call this. This reflects what I felt like doing
these last few months, didn't feel like sampling so much..Hope you'll
enjoy it and spread the word !

credits

Monk' delves into the intoxicating sphere of electronics, which has
recently culminated into the Truman Shuzz EP. This talented Parisian
continues the West Coast tradition that we have grown to be very fond
of, uniquely channelling atmospheric boogie-synths and swingin’ rhythmic
beats, resulting in a distinct sound that is predominant in his first
beat tape - which says it like it is : “Raw Futuristics (monkbeats.bandcamp.com/album/raw-futuristics).

We were hooked, and impressed, at his stunning narrative through
electronic mutations. Amidst the rawness of his production, a nostalgic
wave of warmth tides over each track. Exuding a melancholic charm,
“Truman Shuzz” is a display of mature introspection - less forlorn, a
lot more edge. Its startling how something simple can stir such
compelling emotions in a listener.

We champion this optimism through adversity, it stimulates the movement
of funk – it unfolds a story, and here we present to you Monk’s first
chapter with Darker Than Wax.

The second Brazilian on the DarkerThanWax signing comes in the form of Deryck Alonso Cabrera also
know as D.A.C Beats. Growing up on a strict diet of West Coast G-funk
and the like, this young one has got FUNK etched all over him. From "Old
English" to "Rolling, Rolling, Rolling", he carries on the tradition
strongly, while injecting his own swing and language.
But what hits us most is that certain 'spareness' which he maintains, allowing his tracks to breathe and exude that raw vibe.

There's no
real concept to this album, but its a glimpse into the kind of beats
that don't take too long to put together but make my day so much
brighter after coming home from a long day at my cubicle day job. These
are the beats we wake up for, and ones that give us sleepless nights. No
pre-determined notion of what they can or should be. No indication or
expectation for who will listen to them. Just pure honest raw beats. I
hope you enjoy the sounds, and thank you for listening.

Wednesday, 4 September 2013

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of 93 'Til Infinity, Souls of
Mischief graciously opened their vaults to give Gummy Soul the exclusive
acapellas of their classic album, to remix for the first time ever.

As the framework of the project, Gummy Soul’s Wally Clark, dug through
his extensive record collection, and gathered all of the songs that were
sampled to make hip-hop in 1993. Jazz, Funk and Soul songs, used to
create classics from Digable Planets, Snoop Dogg and Black Moon, were
then re-contextualized to provide familiar, yet updated versions of some
of hip-hop’s most beloved material.

"I wanted to take all of the records that people used back then, and
create new compositions using the same techniques they were using – such
as filtered bass lines, classic drum breaks, echo-y horns – to make an
album that sounds like it could have been released in 1993," says Clark.
"It was an amazing exercise trying to capture the essence of a sacred
time in hip-hop. It also allowed me to playfully use samples that are
normally deemed off-limits, because they are too well known."

Consider this short album as an experiment.
After the two "self-released" vinyl projects i did this year, i wanted to escape...
Just try new things, work freely without restrictions.
I truly think the MPC sampler is "Only Built For Escaping".

It's not about the trip or the destination, it's about getting lost...
"Finally Lost".

Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Much like the car the album is named after, this tape is short, rough,
and unpolished, but it gets the job done. This album is made up of demos
that I've made over the past few months that were actually listenable. I
planned to make it this nice big album, but what the hell, this is good
enough. I like it.

P.S. If you can name all the (main) samples used in this EP, you'll get
an internet high-five because I've lost the original artwork I was
originally going to give out. Sorry.

NEGUIMBEATS - SWEET LIFE EP
CAT NO : DTW 22
NeguimBeats is the latest contribution to the constant paradigm shifts
in the movement of Brazil – though "Sweet Life" is devoid of the booming
favela funk influence, especially pivotal in the current wave of
electronic music. In place is a palatial sonic platter of impeccable
arrangements. Typical sounds are tastefully woven together, resulting in
an incredibly emotive and ambient soundscape. Shaking off expectations
of the tropical, South American percussion based samples, he tastefully
relives the omnipresent nostalgia of jazz - blithe stabs of keys and
notes resonating with earthy, full-bodied snares, as he does in "Smooth
Ambient" and "Life in Abundance". Everything falls into its right place
as "Jazz" (featuring Kolombiano) hits the cans, with flowing anamorphic
sounds and melancholic reverb of piano keys, exuding a keen sense of
longing, ending with the illuminating "Space Traveller", capturing the
calming, cosmic ambience. Neguim Beats evokes an innate connection with
the listener, fast becoming an anomaly in the relationship between
artistes and fans – a vital connection we thrive on at DTW.